U.S. B-52 bombers are getting an upgrade that will let them drop smart munitions like never before

WASHINGTON – U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber — America's longest-serving bomber aircraft — are expected to get an upgrade that will allow them to drop bombs like never before. Business Insider reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

25 Feb. 2019 -- The service is testing a major upgrade for the decades-old bombers, as well as the revolutionary conventional rotary launchers (CFLs). The upgrade will increase the number of munitions a B-52 bomber can drop at one time.

CFLs are rotating munition systems inside the B-52 bomb bay that enable the heavy, long-range bombers to carry a large and varied payload of conventional smart munitions and other guided airborne weapons.

"Before these launchers, the B-52 was not capable of carrying smart weapons internally," explains Master Sgt. Adam Levandowski, Air Forces Strategic (AFSTRAT) armament systems manager. "Now each CRL allows for internal carriage, which adds an additional eight smart bombs per aircraft."

Related: New teeth for an old dog: Air Force seeks to give a bigger bite to B-52H bomber firepower

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Related: Air Force to upgrade B-52 bombers for network-centric warfare

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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